Chrysanthemum plant named `Lovebird`

ABSTRACT

A new plant variety of Chrysanthemum producing dark coral flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a new and distinct variety ofChrysanthemum botanically classified as Dendranthema grandiflora. Thevarietal denomination of the new chrysanthemum is `Lovebird`.

The female parent of the new variety is an unnamed, undistributedseedling identified as `G12-C1` and the male parent is an undistributed,unnamed, seedling identified as `G23-C1`. The new variety has beenasexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Ventura County, Calif.and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

`Lovebird` is a pot type Chrysanthemum plant variety that produces darkcoral flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph shows a typical specimen of the new varietywith colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of thistype. The flowers in the illustration do not show maximum age on theplant. Flowers are persistent and consistently open to show disc floretswith maximum age.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following description of the new variety is of specimens grown in agreenhouse in Ventura County, Calif. in the month of October. `Lovebird`has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Thephenotype may vary with variations in the environment such astemperature, light intensity, day length and cultural conditions. Thecolor designations herein are from The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart except where general terms are used.

To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once ten daysafter planting which results in about 4 breaks per pinch. It has beenobserved that the shelf life of `Lovebird` is about 24 days with theresponse time of about 6.5 weeks. No treatment with growth retardant isrequired. Useful growing conditions include night temperatures of about64°-66° F., day temperatures of about 80°-85° F. and about 5,000foot-candles of light.

Plant:

Habit.--Compact mound.

Height.--About 22 cm.

Branching characteristics.--Strong, short branching.

Number of breaks from pinch.--About 4.

Typical container sizes commercially grown in.--4", 6" pots, 1 galloncontainers.

Length of lateral branches.--About 13 cm.

Stem color.--Near 138B.

Foliage:

Leaf arrangement.--Alternate.

Number of leaves per lateral branch.--About 13.

Leaf size.--Length: About 6.4 cm. Width: About 3.3 cm.

Leaf shape.--Broadly ovate, lobed.

Attachment.--Petioled.

Leaf apex.--Obtuse, with serration.

Base.--Tapered.

Margin.--Palmately lobed with infrequent serrations.

Aspect.--Concave.

Surface.--Top: Lightly pubescent. Bottom: Lightly pubescent.

Petiole.--Length: About 1.5 cm. Color: Near 143C.

Other petiole characteristics.--Tapered wings.

Color.--Mature leaf: Top: Near 147A. Bottom: Near 137C. Young leaf: Top:Near 137A. Bottom: Near 137D.

Flower:

Inflorescence form.--Cyme.

Flower form.--Decorative.

Number of blooms per branch.--About 6.

Diameter of fully expanded bloom.--About 4.5 cm.

Depth of fully expanded bloom.--About 2 cm.

Longevity of bloom.--About 24 days.

Sepal number.--About 30. Color: Near 137B. General appearance of sepals:Fleshy, very little membrane.

Peduncle length.--About 6.5 cm at lowest point on flowering stem, about2.3 cm at the terminal peduncle, peduncle length is progressively longerdownward toward the main stem. Habit: Straight. Surface: Pubescent.Color: Near 138B.

Ray florets.--Number per flower: About 180. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:Obtuse with 3 small lobes. Base: Tapered. Margin: Entire. Aspect:Slightly involute. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 0.6 cm.

Disc florets.--Number per flower: About 20. Shape: Tubular. Length:About 0.5 cm. Width: About 0.1 cm.

Fragrance.--Strong, musky.

Flower color:

General flower coloration.--Dark coral; outer ray florets showing morepink, inner florets more yellow.

Ray florets, top side.--Immature: Near 35B with some streaking of near32D, base near 12B. Mature: Near 35B with some streaking of near 35C.Fading: Near 34D.

Ray floret, under side.--Mature: Near 18C. Immature: Near 18B. Fading:Near 18C.

Disc florets.--Mature: Near 15B tip, near 2D base.

Changes as the flower ages.--Flower color becomes more yellow; flowerform stays flat as ray florets open outward; eventually center discflorets are visible.

Reproductive organs:

Ray florets.--Pistillate. Stigma shape: Linear. Stigma color: Near 11A.Style length: About 0.4 cm.

Disc florets.--Stigma shape: 2 forked. Stigma color: Near 13A. Stylelength: About 0.2 cm. Stamen number: About 6. Anther length: About 0.15.Pollen color: Near 23A. Pollen quantity: Abundant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant of the variety substantially as herein shown and described. 